Submerged heater.



No. 638,195. Patented mw.l 2s; 189.9.

E. J; BYRNF..Y suBm-:nalan HEATER. (Application filed Oct. 18, 1897. Renewed Jan. 25, 1899.)

ma Model.)

EDWARD J. BYRNE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SUBMERGED HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 638,195, dated November 28, '1899.

Application led 0ctobe1'l8,1897. Renewed January Z5, 1899. Serial No. 703,391. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BYRNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Submerged Heater, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in heaters of that class which are to be submerged in Water for the purpose of heating the same; and the object that I have in View is to provide a simple str ucture which may be used in a manner to heat water in a bathtub and to Warm the room in which the bathtub is situated, although the device may be used generally for heating liquids by submerging it in the liquid.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the heater as to secure to the best advantage a uniform distribution of the heat, so as to apply the heat to all the surfaces With which the Water may come in contact, to provide for the ignition of the fuel at the burner when the heater is submerged in the liquid, and to simplifythe construction with a View to making it compact and durable, efficient and reliable, and cheap of manufacture.

To the attainment of these ends the iirst part of the invention consists in a heater provided with a chamber, a burner contained 0r housed therein, dues for the circulation of air to and from said chamber, and a regulator to control the passage of air and heat, Whereby the heat may be caused to circulate in the chamber in a circuitous course and permitted to escape from the chamber directly into one of the air-fines.

The invention further consists in a submerged heater having a burner-chamber, an upright mixing-fine communicating With-the burner in said chamber, and air and gas inlets communicating Withsaid mixing-lineand located at a point to insure the free ingress of the air, whereby the air and gaseous fuel may be intimately and thoroughly commingled as they circulate through the mixingflue and before entering the burner.

The invention further consists in a submerged heater in which the burner-containx c n ing chamber is constructed to provide forthe circuitous circulation of heat therein, so as to provide for' the application of heat to the bottom and sides as Well as to the top of the chamber, in combination with air-fines communicating with the chamber and a burner situated Within the chamber; and the invention further consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure l is a perspective view of a submerged heater and radiator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof, taken through the air-fines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated bythe dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig.

4l is a detail perspective view of the burnerdetached from the heater, and Fig.. 5 is a detail View of the regulator or damper for use in the heater.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

l designates the shell of my improved heater, and 2 3 are the air-tubes. which are attached or fastened to the shell in any suitable manner, so that the tubes open into or communicate with the chamber of the shell.` I prefer to construct the shell and the air-tubes of sheet metal and to unite the parts of the shell together by solder or seam joints, while the air-tubes may be united to the shell by solderjoints; but the detailed construction of these parts may be varied Within the sltill of the mechanic. The shell may be of the circular form shoWn by the drawings; but it may be of any other preferred shape. The air-tubes 2 3 are of sufficient length to extend above the level or surface of the Water in which the heater is submerged.

The interior of the shell 1 is divided or constructed to secure a circuitous or tortuous circulation of the heat or hot air therein, so

as to secure uniform distribution of the heat and to cause it to impinge against the entire area of the surface of the heater. This division of the chamber in the shell l is effected t by the provision of partitions or deflectors, which are preferably of cast metal for simplicity in construction and cheapness of manu- IOO facture, and such cast-metal construction of the partitions or deiiectors is also advantageous, in that it adds weight to the heater for the purpose of keeping it submerged in the water against any tendency to rise therein owing to the buoyancy of the structure.

My preferred means for dividing the interior of the chamber in the shell 1 consists in the employment or a curved partition or delector 4 and two short partitions 5 6, which are arranged within the shell-chamber to form the l'lues therein, substantially as indicated by Fig. 3. As hereinbefore stated, these partitions or deliectors 4 5 6 are all cast in a single piece of metal and the short partitions 5 6 are joined to the curved partition 4 by short transverse ribs 8 integral with the partitions. The curved partition 4 is arranged substantially concentric to or parallel with the vertical wall of the shell 1, so as to leave between the partition 4 and the wall of the shell a flue 10. I prefer to extend the lower end of the air-Hue 2 into the shell 1, so as to terminate below the upper wall or head of the shell, as shown by Fig. 2. The short straight partitions 5 G are disposed in inclined positions on opposite sides of the lower protruding end of the airinlet flue 2, and said partitions 5 6 extend from the annular wall of the shell into the space inclosed within the curved wall or partition 4, whereby the partitions 5 6 form between themselves a central space 1l, and they form betweenA the partition 4 and the partitions 5 6 the reverse-dues 12 13. The burner, to be presently described, is situated in the central space 11 within the shell, andthe heat or hot air from the burner and thevair-inlet flue 2 is adapted to divide and pass through the iues 12 13 and thence into the iiue 10. The described construction of the-partitions or deflectors serves to divide the interior of the shell into dues through which the heatis compelled to travel in a tortuous course, so as to secure the distribution of the heat to the best advantage and to effect its application to the walls of the shell 1 throughout the entire area thereof.

15 designates the burner, which is contained or housed within the central space 11 of the shell. This burner is of the tubular form shown and occupies a horizontal position in the central part of the shell. The burner is coupled or united at one end by an elbowcoupling 14 t0 a mixing tube orpipe 16, and the other free end of the burner is provided with a head 15,.which substantially closes the free end of the burner. This head of the burner is provided with aseries of centrallydisposed gas-openings 17, and along each side of the burnei` it is provided with two series of horizontally-arranged outlet-openings 18 19. The openings in the sides of the burner designated as 1S occupy horizontal positions at diametrically opposite sides of the burner, while the two series of openings 19 are inclined toward the bottom of the shell 1. The gaseous fuel supplied to the burner issues in jets from the horizontal and inclined series of openings, and thus the ame due to the ignition of the gaseous fuel is projected on horizontal and downwardly-inclined lines in the central space 11 of the shell. The mixing-tube 1G extends upwardly through the air-inlet tube 2, and at its upper end it carries a mixer 20, which is provided with a chamber 21. On one side of this mixer 2O is provided a nozzle 22, to which may be attached a supply-pipe 23, adapted to be coupled to a suitable source of gas-supply, either a gas-fixture communicating with a city main, a tank, or any suitable source of supply. Below the chamber 21 of the mixer is provided an airinlet orifice 24, and the mixer is further provided with a gas-outlet port 25, which is in axialalinementwiththemiXing-tube1G. The volume of gas permitted to pass through the port 25 is regulated by a needle-valve 26, which is preferably of conical form and which finds a suitable bearing in a plug 27. The gas under pressure flows through the port 25 when the valve is adjusted to open the latter, and as the gas flows under pressure into the mixing-tube 16 air i s drawn through the open ing 24, whereby the gas and air are combined as they pass through the tube 16 to the burner 15.

In a submerged heater such as described it is necessary to provide means by which the air and gas may be thoroughly commingled before gaseous fuel is admitted to the burner, and to this end I provide in a submerged heater a new element-to wit, an upright mixing-flue. Said flue is located, preferably, 'in the air-inlet flue, and its lower end is arranged to discharge to the burner. The air and gas inlets are arranged in such relation to the mixingdiue as to insure the free and uninterrupted ingress of the air to the said [lue along with the gas, and, as shown by the drawings, the air-inlet port 24 is located contiguous to the open end of th`e air-inlet iue 2, although this specic location of the air port is not essential. The specified arrangement of the iiue and the air and gas inlets thereto is important for two reasons-first, the free and unobstructed ingress of the proper quantity of air to the gas for supporting combustion is assured, and second, the air and gas are intermingled and combined before they enter the burnerand as they cir'- culate through the tube or 'flue 16. The arrangement ofthe air and gas supply provides for the employment of an elongated tube or due, and said i'lue insures the admixture of the gas and air as the current flows to the burner, thereby producing a gaseous fuel which may be consumed bythe burner without the emission of smoke.

The curved partition or deiiector 4 is provided with a transverse opening 30, which is formed therein at a point immediately opposite to the free end of the burner 15, and said partition is furthermore provided with flanges or guideways 31, which are disposed adja- IOO IIO

cent to' the opening 30. In these guideways is slidably fitted the regulator or damper 32, which is adapted to be raised for the purpose of exposing the opening 30, so as to permit the air to pass through the central space 1l direct into the flue 3, or which damper may be closed for the purpose of causing the heat to circulate in the flues 12 13 and thence into the Hue 10 before the heat can pass into the outlet-flue 3 of the heater. This regulator or damper 32 is adapted to be operated when the heater is partially submerged in the Water, and to this end I provide the operating rod or stem 33, which extends upwardly through the outlet-flue 3. I prefer to provide a rod as the operating-stem, which rod is loosely fitted in suitable guides or keepers 34, fixed Within the tube 3, and the lower end of the stem-like rod is loosely connected to the damper or regulator soas to permit the handle 35 of the rod to be adjusted to rest upon the upper' edge of the tube 3 for the purpose of holding the rod and the damper in their raised positions.

The employment of this damper in connection with the divided shell and the burner serves important purposes in my improved submerged heater. When the damper is opened, it provides for ready and convenient lighting of the burner when the heater is submerged, because a lighted taper can be passed down through the tube 3 and its tiame applied against the head of the burner to ignite the gaseous fuel issuing from the ports in said head of the burner, from which ports the fiame will spread in a well-known manner to ignite the fuel issuing from the other ports in the tubular burner. A further advantage of this damper or regulator is that it changes the course of the draft through the shell l, whereby either a direct draft from the inlet-tube 2 through the central space 11 and thence to the outlet-tube 3 may be obtained, or an indirect draft from the tube 2 through the central space l1, the flues 12 13, and the flue l0 and thence to the outlettube 3 may be secured. When the damper is raised to expose the opening 30, a direct draft is obtained in the manner described; but when the damper is lowered the indirect draft exists and the heatis caused to pursue the tortuous course. The admission of air from the tube 2 to the central space 1l is obtained above the burner, and the downward How of air upon the burner tends to deflect the heat toward the bottom of the shell l, whereby the heat is applied against the bottom as Well as against the walls and top of the shell. This is an important feature of my improved heater, because it secures uniform heating of all parts of the shell and enables the structure to heat the water quickly and with less consumption of fuel. I provide my heater with short legs or standards 29, which are attached to the bottom of the shell l and which serve to raise the heater somewhat above the tub or other receptacle in which the heater is placed, thus enabling Water to obtain access to the shell on all sides thereof.

This being the construction of my improved submerged heater, the operation may be described briefiy as follows: The heater is placed in the water until it rests on the bottom of the tub or vessel, the tubes 2 3 extending above the surface of the Water to provide for the free ingress of air to the burner and for the circulation of air and heat from the shell through the outlet-tube 3. The weight of the cast-metal partitions or deliectors tends to keep the heater steadily in position. The needle-valve is opened and gas is permitted to iiow into the mixing-tube to draw air through the port in the mixer and the gas and air are commingled and combined in the tube 16 previous to owing into the burner-tube 15, The damper is raised by operating the valve and a lighted taper is thrust through the tube 3 and applied to the head of the burner to ignite the gaseous fuel issuing from the apertures in the tube. The draft through the shell is direct While the dam peris raised; but When the damper is closed the draft is in the indirect course previously described. The heat is distributed to be applied to all parts of the shell for the purpose of heating the Water in all directions around the shell; but after the Water shall have been raised to the desired temperature the damper may be opened to permit the greater portion of the heat to pass through the tube 3 and escape from the heater into the room for the purpose of Warming the same.

My improved heater is simple and compact in construction, easily handled, and readily controlled. The heater may be used in any desired quantity of Water-that is to say, to heat a small quantity or a large volume of water-and it is equally effectivein either relation. The structure may be used for any and all purposes for Which a compact easilycontrolled heater is desirable.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction of the devices herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of the invention may be made by a skilled mechanic Without departing from the spirit or sacrificingthe advantages of myinvention. Itherefore reserve the right to make such alterations and modifications as' fairly fall Within the scope of the invention.

In my improved heater I provide .a handle 2Gb, which is attached to the tubes 2 3, to serve as a means for readily lifting the heater out of the Water or of placing itin the same. 4 This handle is arranged in a horizontal position between the tubes, and it serves as a stay for holding the tubes in proper relation to each other. The handle is shown as consisting of a coil of wire with its ends fastened to the tubes; but any suitable construction of handle of wood or metal may be employed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

ICO

openings, an airinlet tube extending into said chamber of the casing to discharge the incoming current of air upon the burner-tube, an outlet-tube coupled to said casing, and a fuel-supply tube extending through the inlettube and coupled to the burner-tube, substantially as described.

2. A submerged heater comprising an interiorly-divided casing having a heatingchamber and a circulating-flue communicating with said chamber by unobstructed and damper-controlled openings or ports,a burn ertube lsituated Within the heating-chamber, an air-inlet tube extending into the heatingchamber to discharge its current of air upon the burner-tube, a fuel-supply tube leading through the air-inlet tube and coupled to the burner-tube, and au outlet-tube communicating with the circulating-flue of said chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a submerged heater, a shell provided with the interior partitions forming a burnerchamber and the circulating-fines, one of said partitions having a port communicating with said chamber, and a burner-tube housed Within the chamber, combined with an airinlet tube discharging to said chamber over the burner-tube, a circulating-tube attached to said casing to communicate with the circulating-ue,a damperin the circulating-tube and adapted to close the port in said partition, and means in the inlet-tube to supply fuel to the burner, substantially as described.

4. In a submerged heater, a shell havingits interior divided into iiues by the curved partition, 4, and the short partitions, 5, 6, combined with a burner situated in the space formed by and between said partitions, an air-inlet flue coupled to the shell to supply air tothe central spacev of the shell and above the burner, and an outlet-tube coupled to the shell to communicate With the flue which surrounds the partition, 4, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In asubmerged heater, a shell provided with the interior partition, 4, and with the partitions, 5, 6, and also provided with an opening, 30, in said partition, 4, combined with a burner contained Within the central space of the shell and arranged adjacent to the opening, 30, a slidable damper mounted on the partition, 4, to close or expose the opening, 30, circulatingflues communicating with the flues in said shell, and means for operating the damper, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

6. In a submerged heater, the combination of a shell having the circulating-tubes, a series of cast-metal partitions or detlectors secured Within the shell to Weight the same and esente to divide its chamber into tortuous iiues, a burner housed within the chamber of the shell, a damper situated in one of said circulating-tubes to change the course of the heat through the casing, and means situated in the other circulating-line for supplying gaseous fuel to the burner, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. In a submerged heater, the combination of. a shell, having its interior divided to form tortuous flues, circulating-tubes attached to the shell to communicate with different lues in the shell, a burner housed Within the shell, on a horizontal plane below said circulatingllues and provided in its lower side with the downwardly-facing openings, means for supplying gaseous fuel to said burner, and a darnper contained Within the shell and operated by means extending through one of the circulating-tubes, su bstantiallyas described, for the purposes set forth.

8. In a submerged heater, the combination of an interiorly-divided shell, the air inlet and outlet tubes coupled to the shell, a burner contained Within one of the lues in the shell, a mixing-tube extending through the air-inlet tube and coupled at one end to the burner, a mixer attached to the mixing-tube, and a damper contained within the shell and having an operating-stem which passes through the airoutlet tube, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a submerged heater, the combination with a chamber and circulating-lines connectedl therewith, of an upright mixing-flue communicating with said chamber, a burner located in the chamber, and air and gas inlets to said liuc and located to insure the free ingress of air thereto, substantially as described for the purposes set forth.

10. In asubmerged heater, the combination with a chamber and a burner, of an air-inlet due communicating with said chamber, an outlet-flue also connected to said chamber, an upright mixing-flue connected to the burner, air and fuel inlets connected to said mixingflue and located at a point to insure free ingress of air to said flue, and a damper arranged to cut off direct communication between said chamber and the outlet-flue, or to establish unbroken communication between said chamber and flue, substantially as described.

1l. In asubmerged heater, the combination with a chamber, and a burner therein, of air inlet and outlet iiues connected to said chamber,an upright mixing-Hue extending through the inlet-hue and connected to the burner, an air-inlet to the mixing-flue located at a point to insure free ingress of air to said ue, and a fuel-supply connected to the mixing-hue contiguous to the air-inlet, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

12. Asubmergedheater,comprisingachamber,a burnerlocated in said chamber and hav ing flame-openings olrall sides thereof to di- IOO IIO

reot the fiame against the bottom, Walls and my own I have hereto affixed my signature in top of saioi chamber, circulating-fines comthe presence of tWo Witnesses. munieating with the chamber, a mixing-1iue i 'T connected to said burner, substantially as de- EDWARD J' Bl RNE' i 5 scribed, and air and gas inlets to said flue and Witnesses:

located to insure the free ingress of air thereto. H. F. BERNHAD,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as JOHN H. SIGGERS. 

